Predicting the Denver Broncos' 17-man practice squad after an undefeated preseason - A Hail Mary and plenty of key depth

The Denver Broncos have gone undefeated in the 2025 NFL preseason after beating the New Orleans Saints. The celebration will be short-lived, though, as the team now has the Herculean task of trying to cut its roster from 90 to 53 players by the deadline on Tuesday, August 26th at 2 pm MT. Our prediction had more than a few surprises, including Courtney Jackson stealing a spot on the roster. For our practice squad prediction, the team is throwing a Hail Mary in hopes that Ehlinger can come back, along with plenty of key depth on the offensive line returning.

First, let's break down what exactly the practice squad is and what rules they must follow. To be eligible to be added to the practice squad, a player is immediately eligible if they have no accrued seasons. For rookies, this immediately applies. Next, a player may be eligible if they were on the active roster for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season. And finally, the NFL allows teams to carry up to six players per team with no accrued season limitations, vested veterans. Luckily, our 53-man roster prediction allowed for exactly 16 players who all fit that criteria.

This is where things get interesting. Another caveat is that the NFL allows a team with a player from the International Pathway Program another spot on their practice squad. With Jeremy Crawshaw being eligible. It allows the team to carry a 17th spot on their practice squad if the team wanted to bring in some competition. While he's the only current player on the roster and we have him making the cut in our 53-man prediction, it allows the front office some wiggle room if they feel like they can improve in that area. For that reason, we're going to add him to our list.

Broncos 2025 practice squad prediction

Note: Players with one asterisk (*) represent 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) represent 2025 undrafted free agents.

• QB Sam Ehlinger
• RB Blake Watson
• WR Micahel Bandy
• WR Joaquin Davis**
• TE Caleb Lohner*
• TE Caden Prieskorn**
• OL Will Sherman
• T Frank Crum
• G Clay Webb**
• T/G Xavier Truss**
• DL Enyi Uwazurike
• DT Kristian Williams**
• ILB Karene Reid**
• ILB Jordan Turner**
• CB Jaden Robinson**
• S Sam Franklin Jr.
• IPP designation: Jeremy Crawshaw

With plenty of names on this list drawing some buzz from around the NFL, don't be surprised if some of these players no longer become available if our prediction is correct. It's a very deep roster for the Broncos, an excellent problem to have.